ASAC

Medals - Pre WWI

The Medals page is intended as a guide only. Please post medal queries at the Medal & Awards Discussion Board located at the Forum.

New Zealand Medal

1860-1866

The New Zealand Medal is a British Campaign Medal, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1869. t was awarded to Australia's first war veterans, the crew of the Her Majesty's Colonial Steam Ship Victoria which arrived New Plymouth, New Zealand 30 April, 1860. Four Officers, eight Sergeants, two Buglers and one hundred and twenty members from the 40th Foot were deployed to fight the Maoris. A further 2,000 Australian volunteer recruits constituted the 1st; 2nd; 3rd; and 4th Waikato Regiments and Militia. The medal's obverse features the head of Queen Victoria and the reverse, a circled wreath. Three versions of the medal were awarded. The 1st was dated 1860-61, the second was dated 1861-66, while the third remained undated.

 

Egypt Medal

1882-1889

762 Men were awarded this medal. Deployed by the NSW colony after General Gordon was defeated in Khartoum, 26 January 1885. The circular medal features the Egyptian Sphinx on the reverse and the head of Queen Victoria on the obverse. The blue and white ribbon is dressed with a Suakin 1885 bar.

 

Khedive's Star

1884-1886

The medal is a five pointed star. In the centre of the star on the obverse are two circles. Between the outer and the inner circle are the words Egypt and the year of the battle. Inside the inner circle lies the Egyptian pyramids eclipsed by the head of the Sphinx. The medal is flagged by a small star cupped in a crescent moon and the ribbon is pale blue. Awarded by the Khedive of Egypt, this medal was presented to all those who received the Egypt Medal 1882-89.

 

 

Queen's South Africa Medal

1899-1902

The QSA was a British Medal awarded to Australians [many of whom were expert bush horseman as opposed to infantry soldiers] who served in the Boer War between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Australia's first Nursing contingent from New South Wales and South Australia also served in the Boer War, receiving the Queen's South Africa Medal minus clasps. Twenty-six clasps were issued, of which seventeen were awarded to Australians. The clasps issued to Australians were: Cape Colony [Oct 1899 - May 1902]; Natal [Oct 1899 - May 1900]; Rhodesia [Oct 1899 - May 1900]; Relief of Mafeking [May 1900]; Belmont [ Nov 1899]; Modder River [Nov 1899]; Relief of Kimberley [Feb 1900]; Paardeberg [Feb 1900]; Orange Free State [Feb 1900 - May 1902]; Driefontein [March 1900]; Wepener [April 1900]; Transvaal [May 1900 - May 1902]; Wittenberg [July 1900]; Belfast [Aug 1900]; South Africa 1901; and South Africa 1902. The medal has Queen Victoria crowned and veiled with the words 'Victoria Regina et imperatrix' on the obverse and Britannia holding a wreath towards troops on the reverse. Two ships are in the background and 'South Africa' appears above Britannia.

King's South Africa Medal

1901-1902

The KSA Medal was awarded to those who undertook a second tour of duty during the Boer War for 18 months between 1 January 1901 and 1 June 1902. 130 were issued to troops from QLD; 314 to NSW; 102 to Vic; 71 to SA; 47 to WA; 27 to Tas; 38 to Aust. Commonwealth Horse; 8 to Nursing Sisters; and 7 to Comm. Medical [ACAMC] ... in total 744 medals were issued to Australians. The obverse features Edward VII and Britannia rules on the reverse.

 

 

China Medal

1900

The China Medal was awarded to members of the Naval Brigade who served alongside allied forces [British; American; Japanese; Russian and German troops under the command of Field Marshall Count Von Waldersee] during the Boxer Rebellion. The Naval contingent consisted of sailors from South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Queensland's contribution was Capt. P. H. Keogh, a member of the Queensland Defence Force. Along with the medal awarded to Capt. Keogh, 198 medals were issued to the Victorian Naval Contingent; 257 to the N.S.W. contingent; and 98 medals were issued to the men of the HMS Protector [South Australia]. The medal was instituted in 1902.